Sir, – In his column of May 4th headlined “Censuring D’Arcy might be for a good reason”, John Waters comments, “I would have problems with the apparent acquiescence of Fr D’Arcy in the Sunday World’s ‘stretching’ of his commentaries through the use of headlines and images to cock a snook at church teachings”.
Surely John Waters, experienced commentator on current affairs that he is, must be aware that Brian D’Arcy, a member of the National Union of Journalists, would have had as much influence in the Sunday World as John Waters himself would ever be granted by The Irish Times in its presentation of his articles for publication.
In Fr D’Arcy’s recent interview on RTÉ, I detected no measure of acquiescence on his part on the question of headlines. He did mention them but that was all. Indeed, I heard loud hints that he fully realised he had absolutely not control over what kind of headline a Sunday World subeditor would throw over his submitted copy. Ever has it been in journalism that the choice of a headline is perilous ground. – Yours, etc,